Weekly Report - 20 June 2024 (WR-24-24)

A fleet of four Russian ships recently paid a visit to Cuba in what is the latest sign of strengthening relations between Havana and Moscow. The visit, which took place from 12-17 June, did not go unnoticed in Washington, given deeply strained relations with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. While both Cuba and the US appeared to downplay the fleet’s visit, media reports that the US had mooted cancelling plans to deploy a nuclear submarine to its naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, in what was a routine activity, suggest the current sensitivities in diplomatic relations between the three countries.